Contrary to popular belief, apparently even the opinions of porn consumers themselves, the use of pornography is not "a shameful thing" ("New Student Group Combats Pornography Addiction," April 27). Despite the claims of EndPorn as a support and awareness group, I see this organization as yet another extension of an apparatus seeking to regulate sexual behavior under a particular moral and cultural agenda, even when that agenda conflicts with the values and desires of those it is seeking to influence.
EndPorn is a new student group that (apparently) targets "porn addicts" to help them with their perceived addiction and to raise awareness about pornography issues on campus. Though online porn addiction is (or may be) a potential problem for some people, I have not yet seen convincing evidence and certainly the website provided by EndPorn (www.xxxchurch.com) does not present any facts on the extent of this perceived epidemic. As far as can yet be discerned, the "porn addiction" phenomenon is a tactic of the Christian ultra-right to influence the social agenda by playing to wide-spread fears about sexual licentiousness and appealing to our own (as Michael Warner termed it) "culture of sexual shame."
When EndPorn asks why you wouldn't talk about porn with your mother, the reason is not because porn is evil, but because such a silence has been imposed (often times by the very groups targeting your "liberation," such as EndPorn itself) in order to get you to feel bad about it. It is a double bind: By targeting only "porn addicts," it seems the problem for EndPorn only lies in a small minority; but in saying that all pornography is shameful, it makes everyone who looks at porn guilty, and thus a possible addict.
This is not the first time medical or psychological discourses have been deployed in the regulation of sexuality under a culture of sexual shame. Indeed, until 1974 the American Psychological Association had listed homosexuality as a mental disorder. Less than thirty years later, we have seen the nation-wide decriminalization of homosexuality (last summer, in the repeal of all state sodomy laws) and are on the brink of full-scale social restructuring around homosexuality with the acceptance of gay marriage.
And as an awareness and information group, I fear that a title like "EndPorn" will not be very functional. I think that a campus organization devoted to pornography is a great idea, provided it provide fair and balanced information, refrain from attempting to maneuver the social agenda and be receptive to an array of opinions. People would be drawn to such an organization because it fostered productive conversation and not because it lured them through insults and degradation.
An argument in favor of pornography would not be done justice without recognizing its pitfalls and appealing to the myriad perspectives that oppose it, such as (some) branches of feminism and racial civil rights. Don't be fooled. EndPorn's sleight of hand is to ally itself with these causes when it is politically expedient, while constantly pursuing its own agenda of ultra-conservativism. As an awareness group, EndPorn wants you to think that it is concerned that porn is unhealthy because, for example, pornography presents deplorable depictions of women in subservient positions and may encourage sexual violence. Certainly, the porn industry is not exempt from these criticisms, but just because some feminists oppose pornography does not necessarily mean that this is a concern of EndPorn. If EndPorn was so concerned with presenting the feminist perspective on pornography, why not discuss the brand of feminism that does not oppose porn, but rather views it as a potential site of productive female sexual expression? The pornography issue has made strange bedfellows of ultra-conservatives and feminists, and I don't see this as anything more than a one night stand.
In fact, the consumption of pornography may in fact be "beneficial" to sexual health, both for couples and for individuals.Viewing pornography with your partner can encourage dialogue, better sexual stimulation and hence a healthier sex life for both you and your partner. Moreover, masturbation, and along with it the use of pornography, is the safest form of safe sex.
Don't be fooled by EndPorn. The consumption of pornography is not something shameful or anything to be embarrassed about. By viewing porn and masturbating there is nothing sick about you or anything wrong with you. You are not addicted. Your sexual health is at stake.
